Improvement in postage-stamps



C. F. STEEL.

Postage-Stamp.

No. 69,l25. Paten' ttttttt 26,1875.

.firmer character than the front.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFEICE.

cEAELEs E. srEEu on ivEw YORK, n. Y.

VIMPROV'EMENT |N POSTAGE-STAMPS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No.169,125, dated October 26, 1875; application filed March 15, 1875.

To all whom t may concern.- v

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STEEL, superintendent of the manufacture of postageystamps for the Continental Bank-Note Gompany, in New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain Improvements blotting-paper, quite soft and absorbent. Having printed the face from the properly engraved plates, and allowed the ink thereon to dry properly, I treat the back with a solution -of starch of just a properconsistency, having the effect both to lay a thin coating or covering on the back surface, and also to fill the interstices between the fibers in the paper, so as to give the back surface of the paper a Then, after lattenin g in a press, if desired, I apply British gum or other adhesive layer on the back of the starch layer, and, having again pressed the sheets of stamps, they are ready for shipment and use like ordinary stamps. I

My improved stamp is cheaper to produce than the double-thickness stamp described in my patent of 1869, while it possesses in a great degree the same desirable qualities. The soft face will readily absorb the canceling-ink, and will be soaked and washed away on any attempt to remove the latter.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent magnied cross-sections.

lFigure l represents the condition of my stamp after it has been used and an attempt has been made to remove the canceling-ink.-

The entire face portion of the paper, including the printed device thereon, is removed and destroyed by the operation. The succeeding figures show the several stages of the operation of manufacture and canceling. Fig. 2 is a section through the soft paper before anything has been done to it. Fig. 3 represents the same after the face device has been printed.

Fig. 4 representsthe same after the application of starch to the back. Fig. 5 represents the same after the back of the starched paper has been gummed; and Fig. 6 represents the same after the canceling-ink has been applied and has struck deeply-into the softpaper in the space previously unprinted.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A is the soft body of the paper. This should' be of such a character as to be removed and destroyed by a moderate friction after being wetted, care being taken to avoid employing so extremely soft a paper as will become destroyed by ordinary unskillful manipulation in affixing the stamp. What is called in the trade water-leaf7 paper will suffice. `The ink B may be of any color or character ordinarily used in printing from warm engraved plates. The printed device B may, if preferred, be applied from surface-printing plates in the manner adopted by some foreign nations. C is a layer of fstarch. This may, if preferred, be made from wheat-Hour, rye-flour, or various other materials. It should be of such consistency as to strike a little, .but only a little, into the thickness of the paper. D is the ordinary layer of British gum, or other soluble adhesive material, applied on the back of' postage-stamps to be moistened by the mouth or otherwise in applying upon a letter.

The canceling ink or substance E cannot be controlled. It is liable, in the multiplicity of offices, large and small, and, under various exigencies, to be very greatly varied in different instances. Whatever it may be, it is usually moist enough to strike deeply into the soft body A.

Ahard-bodied paper holds the cancelingink on the surface. My soft paper A allows it to strike in; but the same quality which allows the canceling-ink to penetrate would al- 10W the gum D to also penetrate through the soft paper and discolor and give an'oily appear-ance to the entire stamp. This is prevented by my stratum of starch, or its ecluivalent, indicated by C. f

Any attempt to remove the canceling-ink E other than by the most delicate chemical means involves bot-h wetting and rubbing.

' ThesoftbodyAof mystainp will be destroyed and lthe printedface removed;` byany consdin erable friction in awet state.

o Thequalities of "the soft bodyinduce less disposition `in the stamp toeurlwhen moist-` ened and applied on a letter. There is, also, less disposition to curl after the gumming in ftheprocessof manufacture. Less care is requiredinthe subsequentpressing` and prepa` "ration, inthe-handling, and shipment. A`

thinnerand lighter paper may be employed,

` i and thus the expense of postagein the transs s s mission of sheets of stamps is reduced.`

I believe that with a given quantity and kind of adhesive gum my stamp sticks better than the ordinary kind. l s

` of water-leaf'or othersoft and absorbentpal` i elaimas my invention# 3 p f if; mi A postage orrevenue `stamp formed wh olly per=` provided on the backfwitha tllingeoatingof starchoranlalogous material, andasu-1 t t o perposed` coating offthe ordinary gulnffsubf` y stantiallyas and `for thepurposesset forthf.` y

In testimony whereof `I `have `hereunto set `l l i s my `hand this 13th day of "March, 1875,ir"1`the`1` s presence of two slilbseribing`witnesses.`

s s i oHAsjF. STEEL. 1 of t `Witnesses:

o WM. C. DEY, s s

M. A.A VAN N Amen. 

